Tube cutter



J. L. FRITCH June 21, 1960 TUBE CUTTER Filed Nov. 3, 1958 .A rroxm/e'rs 2,941,291 Patented June J 21, 1960 United States Patent Oflice,

7 2,941,291 TUBE CUTTER Junior L. Fritch, Edgerton, Ohio, assignor to Kent-Moore Organizations, Inc., Warren, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 771,556

1 Claim. '(Cl. 30-102) This invention relates to an improved tube cutter.

It is particularly adapted for the cutting of small and lightweight tubes such as the tubes which might be used in refrigerators or the like.

It is capable, however, of use as a pipe cutter for larger and heavier tubes or pipes.

An object is the provision of a tube cutter which is simple and inexpensive and comprises a minimum number of simple and easily replaceable parts.

Another object is the provision of such a tube cutter which is of small size and is particularly designed for the cutting of small tubes, and is capable of use within limited space.

Another object is the provision of a tube cutter which requires a minimum of contact along the length of the tube for performance of the cutting operation.

A further object is the provision of a tube cutter which is so constructed that it is capable of being quickly engaged with a tube to cut the same, or removal therefrom, and which is efiicient and rapid in operation.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features will more fully appear from the following specification, at-

tached claim and appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved tube cutter partly broken away to show the construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

My improved tube cutter comprises a rotatably supported screw having two jaws mounted thereon for advancement thereover toward or away from each other and a U-shaped frame which rotatably supports the screw and slidably supports the jaws and wherein the jaws carry tube engaging means operable to cut a tube. The U- shaped guide frame is indicated by the numeral and has a pair of arms 12. A screw indicated generally by the numeral 14 has a portion 16which extends freely rotatably through the base of the U-shaped guide frame and has a threaded portion which extends midway between the two arms of the-U-frame. This threaded portion comprises an inner threaded length 18 and an outer threaded length 20. The inner threaded length is of greater diameter than the outer threaded length. These two threaded lengths are oppositely threaded. One is a right hand threaded length; the other is a left hand threaded length.

Adjacent the inner threaded length the screw is provided with a shoulder 22, as shown in Fig. '1. The outer end of the screw is of reduced diameter, as at 24, as hereinafter described.

A pair of cooperating jaws are mounted upon the screw. There is a jaw 26 which is mounted on the outer threaded length 20. There is a jaw 28 which is mounted upon the inner threaded length 18. The jaw 26 is pro vided on opposite sides with guideways which slidably engage over the arms 12 of the U, as shown in Fig. 2.

The jaw 28 is provided with guideways on opposite sides which also slidably engage over the arms 12 of'theU.

The end of the screw which is journaled withinthe base of the U-frame is provided beyond the base with a handle 30. The handle is secured to the screw by attaching means 32. The opposite end of the screw is journaled within an end plate 34 which is secured by screws 36 or the like to the outer ends of the two arms 12 of the U frame.

The jaw 26 is provided with a circular tube cutting wheel 38 rotatably supported upon a shaft 40 between the two forks of the jaw as shown in Fig. 2. Jaw 28 is pro vided with upper and lower rollers 42 and 44 which are supported upon shafts 46 and 48, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These two rollers 42 and 44 are offset opposite sides of the pin 40 upon which the circular cutter '38 is mounted as shown in Fig. 1. Each roller 42 and 44 is divided, providing an interval or space between the opposite end portions of the roller, as shown in Fig. 3. This interval or space is opposite the cutter wheel 38.

That side of the jaw 28 which is adjacent to the shoulder 22 of the screw is provided with a counterbore about the screw of suflicient size to be received over the enlarged adjacent end of the threaded portion 18 of the screw.

It will be seen that the two jaws each move toward or away from each other upon rotation of the screw to receive therebetween a tube for cutting or to be removed from such tube. When the jaws have been advanced so that the end rollers 42 and 44 engage one side of the tube and the circular cutter wheel engages the opposite side of the tube the cutter may be revolved about the tube to cut the same. The limited size of the cutter permits its use within a limited space. The adjustment of both jaws with respect to each other facilitates rapid engagement and disengagement of the cutter from a tube.

I claim:

A tube cutter comprising, in combination, a U-shaped guide frame, a screw extending rotatably freely through the base of the U frame parallel to and spaced between the two arms of the frame, said screw extending beyond the ends of said two arms, an end plate secured to the ends of the two arms of the frame, said screw having an end portion extending into said plate and having a rotatable bearing therein, that portion of the screw extending between the two arms and disposed between the base of the U frame and said plate provided with oppositely threaded lengths, one being a right-hand threaded length and the other being a left-hand threaded length, that threaded length adjacent to the base of the U frame being of larger diameter than the threaded length adjacent to the opposite end of the U frame, a jaw threadedly coupled with the right-hand threaded length of the screw and a cooperating jaw threadedly coupled with the left-hand threaded length of the screw, each of said two jaws provided with guideways received over the'two arms of the U frame for slidable travel of the jaws over said arms toward or away from each other upon rotation of the screw, a handle fixed to the screw beyond the base of the U frame to rotate the screw, one jaw provided with a slot extending lengthwise of the jaw perpendicularly with respect to the screw and substantially in line therewith, a circular cutter wheel rotatably disposed within the slot of said jaw extending beyond the jaw toward the opposite jaw, said opposite jaw provided with a slot extending lengthwise thereof and perpendicularly with respect to the screw, two tube-engaging rollers disposed one above the other independently rotatably supported within the slot of said opposite jaw facing the cutter wheel, said two rollers provided with encircling registering channels positioned in line with the cutter wheel of the other jaw to, receive the same, that jaw which is mounted upon the'threaded length of the screw which is of the smeller'diem'eter, provided on side adjacent-to the cooperating jaw. with a counterbore of suifieient size to receive the threaded length of the \screw which is of greater diameter.

"A A A References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hacker May 1, 1923 Bachli et a1. Jan. 15, 1952 Tilden Nov. 30, 1954 Arnold Sept. 20, 1955 Karnes June 25, 1957 

